“I think it says that despite the extraordinary efforts of outside extreme groups and parties that they lost again,” said Jones, a North Reading Republican who has been minority leader since 2002.

Jones, asked whether he’s concerned about members facing primary challenges from the right, said he hopes not — and said the maneuver wouldn’t be “particularly productive.”

“I come from the Ronald Reagan school in that your 80 percent friend is better than your 100 percent enemy,” Jones said. “In a state where the Republican party is sort of so small numbers-wise, fighting amongst ourselves doesn’t seem to be a pathway to success.”

Lombardo separately addressed reporters and would not specify who voted for him. Lombardo said one Republican lawmaker voted for a candidate besides himself and Jones, but did not offer further details.

“Today wasn’t a loss. Today was the culmination of starting a conversation within the caucus and with the voters of the commonwealth about how they want the Republican Party of Massachusetts to operate, how they want the House caucus to operate, ” Lombardo said.

He added, “They want transparency, they want a strong Republican voice, and we haven’t had that.”

Given their small numbers, Republicans have had little influence in the House under Jones’ long run. There are 25 Republicans in the 160-seat House to start the new session, the same number as in January 2023.

Unlike their Republican counterparts, House Democrats opened their first caucus of the session to the press and quickly renominated Speaker Ron Mariano of Quincy to his leadership post.

House Democrats plan to resume closed caucuses on Beacon Hill, where many key decisions and debates occur in private meetings rather than on the floors of the House and Senate.